Longevity & AgingIntermittent Fasting vs Caloric Restriction: Which Works Better for Heart Health?
A 2025 BMJ systematic review and network meta-analysis of 99 randomised clinical trials involving 6,582 adults compared three intermittent fasting strategies—alternate day fasting (ADF), time-restricted eating (TRE), and whole day fasting (WDF)—against continuous energy restriction (CER) and unrestricted ad-libitum diets. All active diet strategies outperformed ad-libitum eating for body weight reduction. ADF was the only IF strategy to significantly beat CER for weight loss (−1.29 kg). ADF also outperformed TRE and WDF for weight and showed better lipid outcomes than TRE. However, in trials lasting 24 weeks or longer, differences between IF strategies and CER disappeared, suggesting similar long-term efficacy. No meaningful differences emerged for HbA1c or HDL cholesterol across strategies.
